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'If you can work, you will work' - lawmakers pitch welfare reform

WGAL News 8

'If you can work, you will work' - lawmakers pitch welfare reform

WGAL News 8

WEBVTT MIKE STRAUBIS LIVE WITH THE PROPOSEDCHANGES.>> HUMAN SERVICES MAKES UP 40%OF OUR STATE BUDGET.THAT IS ACCORDING TO HOUSEREPUBLICANS.THEY SAY THAT IS ANUNSUSTAINABLE NUMBER AND IF YOUCAN WORK YOU WILL WORK.THAT IS THE BIGGEST PIECE OF A20 BILL PACKAGE OF HUMANSERVICES AND WELFARE REFORMS.IT IS BEING LED BYREPRESENTATIVE MIKE TOBASH.HIM AND OTHERS SAY THE PACKAGEWILL HELP PENNSYLVANIANS BREAKTHE CYCLE OF PROPERTY WHILE ALSOTACKLING THE WASTE OF TAXDOLLARS.>> WE MUST ENSURE A SAFETY NETIS THERE FOR THOSE WHO NEED ITWHILE RESTORING THE DIGNITY OFWORK.THAT WILL HELP PENNSYLVANIANSRELIES THERE POTENTIAL --REALIZE THEIR POTENTIAL.>> THE BILL WOULD REQUIREABLE-BODIED ADULTS WITH NODEPENDENTS TO WORK.LAWMAKERS SAY THAT WOULD APPLYTO MORE THAN HALF OF THE PEOPLEWHO CURRENTLY RECEIVE STATEBENEFITS.THE BILLS WOULD ALSO ESTABLISHLIMITS ON HOW LONG PEOPLE CANSTAY ON CERTAIN BENEFITPROGRAMS.THE BILLS ARE JUST BEINGINTRODUCED, KEEP IN MIND,GOVERNOR WOLF DID VETO A SIMILAR

'If you can work, you will work' - lawmakers pitch welfare reform

WGAL News 8

HARRISBURG, Pa. —

Pennsylvania's Health and Human Services budget now makes up more than 40 percent of the state budget, according to House Republicans, who say that number is unsustainable.

Rep. Mike Tobash, who covers parts of Schuylkill and Dauphin counties, and Rep. Aaron Kaufer from Luzerne County, are proposing a 20-bill package aimed at welfare reform, which they say will help families improve their quality of life and get rid of waste, fraud, and abuse within the current system.

"We must ensure a safety net is there for those who truly need it while also restoring the dignity of work. That will help Pennsylvanians realize their potential and achieve their independence," Kaufer said at a Tuesday morning news conference.

The bill would require able-bodied adults with no dependents to work. The lawmakers said that provision alone would apply to more than half of the people receiving state benefits.

The bill would also establish limits on how long people could stay on certain benefit programs.

At this point, the bills are in their infancy, just being introduced.

Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed a similar bill in October.

State of welfare in Pa.

As of Oct. 2017, nearly 3.2 million people in Pennsylvania receive some kind of public benefit from the state. That’s nearly 25 percent of the state’s population.

The state also received 283,000 applications for assistance in Oct. 2017.

Pennsylvania's Health and Human Services budget now makes up more than 40 percent of the state budget, according to House Republicans, who say that number is unsustainable.

Rep. Mike Tobash, who covers parts of Schuylkill and Dauphin counties, and Rep. Aaron Kaufer from Luzerne County, are proposing a 20-bill package aimed at welfare reform, which they say will help families improve their quality of life and get rid of waste, fraud, and abuse within the current system.